Uneven Breast Size Signals Higher Cancer Risk

johnnymk · 03-25-2006, 11:05 AM

The greater the size difference between a woman's breasts, the greater her risk of developing breast cancer, according to a British study of over 250 women.

"This is the first evidence of a possible link between breast asymmetry and predisposition to breast cancer," said Dr. Diane Scutt, director of research in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Liverpool, who headed the study.

Dr. Scutt's team calculated the breast asymmetry of 252 cancer-free women who later developed breast cancer and compared them to 252 women without cancer.

Women who developed breast cancer had higher breast asymmetry than the healthy controls, the researchers found.

It turned out that the relative odds of developing breast cancer were 1.5 for every 100 milliliters difference. That is, risk increased by 50 percent for each 100 milliliters of asymmetry.

One hundred milliliters is about the equivalent of 7 tablespoons, said experts.

Why asymmetry might increase risk is not certain, Scutt said.

"Breasts develop rapidly just prior to and during puberty," she said, "and the importance of estrogen in the development and growth of breasts is well-established.

"Symmetrical-breast development may well be an indicator of an individual's ability to tolerate 'disruptive' hormonal variation while maintaining developmental stability."

The study was published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

ialsohaveadream · 03-25-2006, 02:47 PM

Here's the link, because this story isn't made up

And luckily I'm in early enough to be the first one to say this:

Ok, ladies, here's the test...I put my hands on both of them, if one of your girls fills up more of my hand than the other, that's a bad sign.

Houdini · 03-26-2006, 12:42 AM

I wouldn't get too worked up over this. There are many more significant risk factors for breast CA (fam history, BRCA genes, etc.), and while this may have been observed, I'd like to see more evidence in larger studies, etc. Extreme breast size differences are relatively rare anyway. But any hormonal dysfunction during development may cause problems later in life.

dsuds · 03-26-2006, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ialsohaveadream

snip...
Ok, ladies, here's the test...I put my hands on both of them, if one of your girls fills up more of my hand than the other, that's a bad sign.

No... no... no... you got it all wrong. If you have a breast in each hand, that is NEVER a bad sign.

(Unless of course your wife walks in and they aren't her breasts).

sizemic1 · 03-29-2006, 09:11 AM

I'm not envisioning this. Can someone please post a picture?

Mommypooh · 04-02-2006, 11:19 AM

Well they need to include the factor that some of us have different sizes breast for reasons other than low hormones. It needs to include BF women as well.

03-25-2006, 11:05 AM	#1
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Uneven Breast Size Signals Higher Cancer Risk The greater the size difference between a woman's breasts, the greater her risk of developing breast cancer, according to a British study of over 250 women. "This is the first evidence of a possible link between breast asymmetry and predisposition to breast cancer," said Dr. Diane Scutt, director of research in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Liverpool, who headed the study. Dr. Scutt's team calculated the breast asymmetry of 252 cancer-free women who later developed breast cancer and compared them to 252 women without cancer. Women who developed breast cancer had higher breast asymmetry than the healthy controls, the researchers found. It turned out that the relative odds of developing breast cancer were 1.5 for every 100 milliliters difference. That is, risk increased by 50 percent for each 100 milliliters of asymmetry. One hundred milliliters is about the equivalent of 7 tablespoons, said experts. Why asymmetry might increase risk is not certain, Scutt said. "Breasts develop rapidly just prior to and during puberty," she said, "and the importance of estrogen in the development and growth of breasts is well-established. "Symmetrical-breast development may well be an indicator of an individual's ability to tolerate 'disruptive' hormonal variation while maintaining developmental stability." The study was published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

03-25-2006, 02:47 PM	#2
ialsohaveadream Fleet Admiral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: FL Posts: 8,077	Here's the link, because this story isn't made up And luckily I'm in early enough to be the first one to say this: Ok, ladies, here's the test...I put my hands on both of them, if one of your girls fills up more of my hand than the other, that's a bad sign. __________________ Web log

03-29-2006, 09:11 AM	#5
sizemic1 Owww, I feel good! Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Beautiful Temecula CA Posts: 2,002	I'm not envisioning this. Can someone please post a picture? __________________ [___] (O lllllll O) []==O=[]

04-02-2006, 11:19 AM	#6
Mommypooh Commander Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,425	Well they need to include the factor that some of us have different sizes breast for reasons other than low hormones. It needs to include BF women as well. __________________ Married to my High School sweetheart and Best Friend BigJon Mommy to Gabby (03/03), Cameron (01/05), and Magnus (09/07)

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03-26-2006, 12:42 AM	#3
Houdini Admiral Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: New Orleans Posts: 5,054	I wouldn't get too worked up over this. There are many more significant risk factors for breast CA (fam history, BRCA genes, etc.), and while this may have been observed, I'd like to see more evidence in larger studies, etc. Extreme breast size differences are relatively rare anyway. But any hormonal dysfunction during development may cause problems later in life.

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